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Friday, March 25, 2011

This is not an isolated incident...

...nor is it confined to the Arab/Muslim world. As I have said, depending on economic conditions (and today's GDP figure is not exactly reassuring as the tradition of goosing NOMINAL GDP is standard operating procedure for nations trying to buy time until the next economic expansion) we will see much more of Cloth or Gavel type of choices with respect to how people are ruled and order is achieved.

CAIRO — In post-revolutionary Egypt, where hope and confusion collidein the daily struggle to build a new nation, religion has emerged as apowerful political force, following an uprising that was based onsecular ideals.

The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group once banned by the state, isat the forefront, transformed into a tacit partner with the militarygovernment that many fear will thwart fundamental changes.

It is also clear that the young, educated secular activists whoinitially propelled the nonideological revolution are no longer thedriving political force — at least not at the moment.

As the best organized and most extensive opposition movement in Egypt,the Muslim Brotherhood was expected to have an edge in the contest forinfluence. But what surprises many is its link to a military thatvilified it.

“There is evidence the Brotherhood struck some kind of a deal with themilitary early on,” said Elijah Zarwan, a senior analyst with theInternational Crisis Group.

“It makes sense if you are the military — you want stability andpeople off the street. The Brotherhood is one address where you can goto get 100,000 people off the street.”